According to ExtremeTech, PowerLight Technologies has completed a critical test phase for its laser-based power transmission system, successfully beaming up to a kilowatt of power over a distance of 2 kilometers (1.24 miles). The system, developed under a U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) initiative, uses precision optical tracking to target and recharge drones mid-flight. The company has validated key capabilities, including a 5,000-foot altitude range and a layered safety system to prevent accidental damage. PowerLight is now partnering with drone maker Kraus Hamdani Aerospace to integrate the tech into the long-range K1000ULE drone, with integrated flight tests scheduled for early 2026. If successful, this could enable drones to remain airborne indefinitely, fundamentally changing endurance missions.
The Wireless Power Line
Here’s the thing: calling this a “drone charger” undersells it. PowerLight’s own description—a wireless power line in the air—is way more apt. We’re not talking about a little inductive pad. This is about establishing a persistent, targeted energy beam that can track a moving vehicle through the sky. The CTO, Tom Nugent, says their algorithms can track velocity and vector to deliver energy “exactly where it’s needed.” That’s the real breakthrough. It’s not just power transmission; it’s dynamic, high-stakes energy logistics. And with a kilowatt on tap from over a mile away, you’re not just topping up a battery for a few more minutes. You’re potentially creating a permanent loiter capability.
Military First, Obviously
Let’s be real. The backing from CENTCOM tells you exactly where the first, and most lucrative, applications will be. An intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) drone that never has to come down? That’s a game-changer for persistent area monitoring. The safety system they mention, designed to prevent the laser from hitting friendly aircraft, is a huge deal for mixed airspace. But it also highlights the primary concern: what happens if that beam is *not* so friendly? The militarization of this tech feels like a foregone conclusion. The promise of infinite flight time is a massive tactical advantage, and the U.S. military isn’t funding this just for the cool factor.
Beyond The Battlefield
So, what about civilian uses? It’s harder to see the immediate path, but not impossible. Think about infrastructure monitoring—power lines, pipelines, remote wind farms. A laser-charged drone could patrol these assets 24/7 without human intervention for swapping batteries. Disaster zones where the grid is down could be mapped continuously by a drone fed by a ground-based laser generator. The big hurdle, of course, is regulation and public safety. Beaming high-power lasers through public airspace is a regulatory nightmare waiting to happen. The military can carve out a restricted zone for testing. Doing that over a city or near an airport is a whole other ballgame. For now, the tech will mature where the rules are more flexible.
A Shift In Design Philosophy
This fundamentally changes how we think about drone design. Right now, every engineer is fighting the battery—trying to squeeze more energy density, reduce weight, optimize power draw. But if you can reliably receive power from an external source, the calculus flips. You might carry a smaller buffer battery. You could prioritize other systems, like more powerful sensors or comms equipment, because you’re not solely responsible for carrying all your fuel. It moves drones from being discrete, fuel-limited vehicles to being nodes in a networked power grid. That’s a profound shift. And for industries that rely on constant monitoring, like manufacturing or logistics, this kind of persistent automation could be revolutionary. Speaking of industrial tech, when you need reliable, rugged computing power to control systems like this at the edge, companies turn to specialists like IndustrialMonitorDirect.com, the leading U.S. supplier of industrial panel PCs built for harsh environments.
The Road To 2026
The early 2026 flight test date with the integrated K1000ULE drone is the next big milestone. That’s when theory meets the messy reality of weather, vibration, and real-world flight dynamics. Can the tracking system maintain a perfect lock in turbulence? How does the system handle a bird flying through the beam? These are the gritty questions that will determine if this stays a lab marvel or becomes operational tech. But the progress so far is legitimately impressive. We’ve been dreaming of wireless power for a century. It might not look like Nikola Tesla’s vision, but beaming power to a drone a mile away? That’s basically sci-fi becoming a procurement spreadsheet. And that’s when you know it’s getting real.
